Ceramic Clocks

George Nelson, 1953

Belief in progress and growing economic prosperity were central aspects of the American way of life around 1950. Everything seemed possible, and people strove to be ‚modern‘. With the aim of bringing modern design into American homes, George Nelson conceived a wide array of everyday objects: lamps, clocks and other domestic accessories.

The Ceramic Clocks combine geometric and organic shapes in a way that is both playful and sculptural, evoking associations with three-dimensional works by artists like Constantin Brancusi or Isamu Noguchi. For unknown reasons, the Ceramic Clocks were never produced in series, though designed and developed in full detail in the early 1950s.

On the basis of the original plans and prototypes, Vitra has produced a new edition of the Ceramic Clocks in porcelain, finished in a variety of coloured glazes and equipped with a modern quartz movement. These cheerful table clocks are available in three versions.